Board game construction

ABSTRACT

A game board wherein a plurality of spaced areas are provided on a background, which spaced areas are marked differently from the background, and a plurality of separate elements are removably located on the background between selected areas, the separate elements being marked to visually blend with the background and also to present visual connections between the spaced areas.

United States Patent [191 Weisbecker 1 June 26, 1973 BOARD GAMECONSTRUCTION [76] Inventor: Joseph A. Weisbecker, 1220 Wayne Avenue,Erlton, Cherry Hill, N.J. 08034 [22] Filed: Oct. 13, 1971 [21] App].No.: 188,864

[52] US. Cl...... 273/131 B, 273/131 K, 273/137 D, 273/135 R [51] lnt.Cl. A631 3/00 [58] Field of Search 273/131, 134, 136, 273/156, 157

[56] 5 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,162,876 6/1939 Barton273/131 B 3/1948 l-leuser 273/131 B 2/1952 Olsen 273/131 B PrimaryExaminer-Delbert B. Lowe Attorney-Robert K. Youtie ABSTRACT A game boardwherein a plurality of spaced areas are provided on a background, whichspaced areas are marked differently from the background, and a pluralityof separate elements are removably located on the background betweenselected areas, the separate elements being marked to visually blendwith the background and also to present visual connections between thespaced areas.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BOARD GAME CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION As is well known to those versed in the art, there have beenproposed innumerable board games, few of which have achieved wideacceptance, primarily because of relatively complex rules, appearanceand structure, and lack of flexibility in manner of play or use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an important object of thepresent invention to provide a board game construction which overcomesthe above-mentioned difficulties, is extremely simple and attractive inappearance, structure and use, the rules being quickly and easilyunderstand able by persons of widely varying ages and ability, andwherein the mode of play is highly flexible and readily variable toaccommodate to many various situations and conditions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a board gameconstruction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in thepreceding paragraph, wherein a variety of challenging and suspensefulgames may be played bydifferent numbers of players of all ages. I

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a gameconstruction of the type described which serves to develop skills inpattern perception and planning, is attention arresting for long periodsof time, and may optionally be employed as a puzzle for solitarydiversion, if desired.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspectiveview'illustrating the game board and other parts of the instant gameconstruction.

FIG. 2 is a partial, enlarged top plan view showingthe game board ofFIG. 1 in operative association with certain game parts to illustrateplay of the game.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view similar toFIG. 2.

' DESCRIPTION O THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now moreparticularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a gameboard is there generally designated 10,-including a generallyrectangular or square rigid sheet or panel 11 having opposite front andback sides or faces 12 and 13, respectively.

The front or playing face 12 of the panel 11 includes a background 14having a characteristic marking, say being suitably colored or otherwisecharacteristically marked. Provided on the playing face 12, arranged inspaced relation on the background 14, are a plurality of spacedlocations or areas 15. The spaced locations or areas 15 are eachprovided with decoration or markings characteristically differentiatedfrom the characteristic markings of the background 14. Thus, the

spaced areas or locations 15 are characteristically marked to visuallydifferentiate from the background 14 which separates the spaced areasfrom each other. In practice, the spaced locations or areas may each beof a generally rectangular or square configuration, all similar orcongruent to each other, and arranged in rank-and-file-likeconfiguration so as to define parallel sets of rows extendingtransversely of each other. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the spaced areasor locations 15 are arranged in vertical and horizontal sets of rows.

The area of playing face 12 remaining outside of the spaced locations orareas defines the background 14, which is made up of the interarearegions. As best seen in FIG. 1, the background 14 remaining between thespaced areas 15 forms groups of parallel lines intersecting with eachother, one group extending vertically and the other group extendinghorizontally, as illustrated.

The spaced areas or locations 15 are raised or relieved relative to theremainder or background 14 of the plain face 12. That is, the raised orrelieved spaced areas 15 are generally coplanar and at a level spacedabove that of the background 14, which is also coplanar.

While the spaced areas 15 are all marked so as to present visualappearances different from that of the background 14, certain of thespaced areas 15 are marked differently from each other. In theillustrated embodiment, each corner group of three raised areas 15 ismarked a characteristic color, as indicated by graphic symbols in thedrawings. For example, in FIG. I the upper left-hand corner group ofspaced areas is indicated as red, the upper right corner group beingindicated as green, the lower right corner group being indicated asyellow, and the lower left corner group being indicated as blue.

Additionally, an intermediate edge group of three spaced areas alongeach edge of the playing face 12 is characteristically indicated incorrespondence with a diagonally spaced corner group. For example, theupper intermediate edge group of spaced areas 15 is graphically markedto represent yellow in correspondence with the lower right corner grouppf spaced areas, the right-hand edge group being characteristicallymarked blue in correspondence with the lower left corner group, thelower edge group being characteristically marked red in correspondencewith the upper left corner group, and the left intermediate edge groupbeing characteristically marked green corresponding to the upper rightcomer group. Additionally, the intermediate edge groups of spaced areas15 may be provided with further characteristic marking, such as acentral dot for ready differentiation. As will appear more fullyhereinafter, the corner groups of spaced areas 15 may provide startinglocations, and the edge groups of spaced areas may provide end areas orspaces.

The remaining spaced areas 15 located inwardly of the edge areas may bemarked the same as each other cylinders or other suitable configurationadapted for convenient placement on the various spaced areas 15. in theillustrated embodiment there are provided twelve playing pieces 20, eachmarked in correspondence with a respective corner group of spaced areas15. For example, there may be three playing pieces 20 marked in the samecolor as the corner spaced area groups, there being three playing piecesred, three playing pieces green, three playing pieces yellow and threeplaying pieces blue.

The instant game construction further comprises a plurality of separatelinking members or elements 25. The linking elements 25 are eachgenerally planar and configured for removable conforming interpositionbetween adjacent pairs of spaced areas 15. The linking elements ormembers 25 may also be generally flat and each of a thicknessapproximating the height of the spaced areas above the background 14.

Further, the linking members or elements 25 are of different outlineconfigurations, see FIG. 1, certain of the linking elements beinggenerally C shaped, others of the linking elements being S shaped, andstill others of the linking elements being T shaped. in the illustratedembodiment there are twelve linking elements 25, there being four ofeach distinctive configuration or shape, and each sized for conforminginterengagement between spaced areas 15 overlying the intermediateregion of background 14.

The linking elements 25 are each provided on one face with markingshaving characteristics corresponding to that of the background 14, sothat the linking elements on the background serve to visually blend withthe latter. For example, the linking elements may be colored black onone face so as to blend with a black background 14. However, the linkingelements are further provided with elongate or striped markings 26,which may be characteristic of and correspond to the markings of theinner spaced areas 15, for example white. The elongate or stripedmarkings 26 of each linking element 25 extend transversely across theassociated portion of the linking element. Thus, the C" shaped elements25 are each provided with three elongate or striped markings 26, oneextending transversely across each end portion and the remaining stripeextending across the medial portion. The T shaped elements 25 aresimilarly provided with three stripes or elongate markings, oneextending transversely across each arm of the cross part, and theremaining stripe extending transversely across the leg of the T shapedelement. Similarly, each S shaped element is provided with three stripedor elongate markings, one extending transversely across each end portionof the element, and the remaining marking extending transversely acrossthe medial portion of the element.

Thus, with the linking members or elements 25 selectively interposedbetween spaced areas 15 on intermediate regions of the background 14,say as seen in FIG. 2, it will be apparent that the several striped orelongate markings 26 provide visual links or apparent connectionsbetween adjacent pairs of spaced areas 15. This appearance is emphasizedby marking the stripes 26 corresponding to the inner spaced areas 15,say being marked in white.

While the device of the present invention may be employed merely as apuzzle, say utilizing the various elements 25 in conjunction with theboard 10 to produce a desired visual pattern of apparently linked spacedareas 15, the hereinbefore described apparatus may also be employed inthe play of certain highly interesting and suspenseful games.

For example, a simple game uniquely attractive to persons of all agesand abilities starts by removing all the separate elements 25 from theboard 10, and each player choosing a particular color and locating hisplaying pieces 20 on the correspondingly colored corner start areas 15.There may be any number of players between 2 and 4, inclusive. With theseparate elements 25 all in a pile, each player picks one element at atime in succession until the players each have three, the remainingelements being set aside and not used. The object of the game is for aplayer to move his playing pieces onto the end spaces 15 first, the endspaces being those intermediate edge spaces marked with a dot.

The players take turns, and on each turn a player must do the followingtwo things:

l. He must either put one of his elements 25 on the board or take anyelement 25 from the board; and

2. He must move one of his playing pieces 20. He

must not both take and put an element 25 on the same turn. The elements25 must be placed on the board so that they fit into the recessedbackground areas between the raised areas 15. The elongate markings orstripes will then define paths connecting the spaced areas 15. No partof an element 25 may cover another element 25, and a player may neverhold more than three elements 25 at one time. If he already has threeelements 25 when it is his turn, he may not take an element 25 from theboard, but must put one of his elements on the board. After putting orremoving an element 25 with respect to the board 10, the player mustmove one of his playing pieces 20.

A playing piece can be moved any number of spaces connected by a markedlinked stripe 26 in any direction, but cannot pass through or stop onanother players start or end areas 15. Nor can a playing piece 20 passthrough or stop on any area 15 already occupied by a playing piece. If aplayer cannot move any of his playing pieces in accordance with theabove recited rules (even moving a playing piece out of an end space),he must return any one of his playing pieces to any one of his startareas.

Play continues in the above manner until one player gets all of hisplaying pieces 20 on his three end spaces 15 to win.

From the foregoing, it will now be appreciated that the device of thepresent invention provides a game construction which fully accomplishesits intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions ofmanufacture, distribution and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A game construction comprising a game board defining a playing facehaving a background, said background being characteristically marked, aplurality of spaced areas on said playing face, said spaced areas beingcharacteristically marked different from said background, a plurality ofseparate elements each specifically configured for removable location ona background region between selected areas, said separate elements eachhaving markings corresponding to those of said background to visuallyblend the elements with the background when the elements are located onthe background, and said separate elements each having additionalmarkings corresponding to those of said spaced areas and contoured tovisually present apparent connection therebetween.

2. A game construction according to claim 1, in combination withadditional spaced areas on said playing face marked to define beginningand end areas, and a plurality of playing pieces for movement betweensaid beginning and end areas along said first-mentioned spaced areas andconnections therebetween.

3. A game construction according to claim 2, said first-mentioned andadditional spaced areas being arranged in rank-and-file-likeconfiguration so that the background forms groups of parallel linesintersectin with each other.

4. A game construction according to claim 3, said configuration andintersecting lines being generally rectilinear.

5. A game construction according to claim 1, said background beingdepressed relative to said spaced areas, for location of said separateelements in the depressed regions between said spaced areas.

6. A game construction according to claim 5, said spaced areas beingrelieved relative to said background substantially the thickness of eachseparate element, for location of the latter in said depressed regionssubstantially flush with said spaced areas.

7. A game construction according to claim 1, said separate elements eachbeing of elongate configuration for disposition in-between said spacedareas, and said additional markings extending transversely across saidelements.

1. A game construction comprising a game board defining a playing facehaving a background, said background being characteristically marked, aplurality of spaced areas on said playing face, said spaced areas beingcharacteristically marked different from said background, a plurality ofseparate elements each specifically configured for removable location ona background region between selected areas, said separate elements eachhaving markings corresponding to those of said background to visuallyblend the elements with the background when the elements are located onthe background, and said separate elements each having additionalmarkings corresponding to those of said spaced areas and contoured tovisually present apparent connection therebetween.
 2. A gameconstruction according to claim 1, in combination with additional spacedareas on said playing face marked to define beginning and end areas, anda plurality of playing pieces for movement between said beginning andend areas along said first-mentioned spaced areas and connectionstherebetween.
 3. A game construction according to claim 2, saidfirst-mentioned and additional spaced areas being arranged inrank-and-file-like configuration so that the background forms groups ofparallel lines intersecting with each other.
 4. A game constructionaccording to claim 3, said configuration and intersecting lines beinggenerally rectilinear.
 5. A game construction according to claim 1, saidbackground being depressed relative to said spaced areas, for locationof said separate elements in the depressed regions between said spacedareas.
 6. A game construction according to claim 5, said spaced areasbeing relieved relative to said background substantially the thicknessof each separate element, for location of the latter in said depressedregions substantially flush with said spaced areas.
 7. A gameconstruction according to claim 1, said separate elements each being ofelongate configuration for disposition in-between said spaced areas, andsaid additional markings extending transversely across said elements.